On Saturday, March 3rd, I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina. I was going to the funeral for Ramona Brant, which was scheduled for the following day at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, in Charlotte.
In part one of this story, I am sharing some of the images of spring that I found in North Carolina. Spring comes a month earlier in North Carolina than it does in western New York. Seeing spring bursting to life at the beginning of March felt like a small miracle. It was beautiful, but bitter sweet. It was new life in the midst of death. It was vibrant color in the presence of sadness. It was glimmer of hope at a time when all hope seemed to have fled.
The colors of the Charlotte area, located in south central North Carolina, in the Piedmont, a plateau region found in the eastern United States, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian mountains.
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| The first thing that I noticed were the flowering trees. |
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| Flowers on a tree. I was surprised to see that. Through the area, I noticed a plethora of trees in bloom. |
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| This flower was caught in the act of opening. |
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| This one is wide open. |
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| So much color in such small plants. |
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| This one plant incorporates elements of purple and yellow, which are complimentary colors. |
Some glimpses of life in Davidson, North Carolina
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| On a warm day, you could relax on this bench while waiting for your haircut. |
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| Davidson has brick sidewalks and a great plethora of shops and restaurants for people to enjoy. |
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| Relaxing outside on an early spring day |
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| Above parked bicycles, the mural celebrates bicycles and farmers markets. |
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| Remembering Anne Frank. |
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| Another bench for relaxation and people watching. |
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| Welcome to this building. |
Tomorrow: Remembering Ramona Brant. Please come back tomorrow to read about this remarkable woman and her great contribution to her community and beyond, despite tremendous adversity.
Lovely photos..I especially loved the graffiti and that solo chair
For several years, my husband and I would travel through North Carolina in early to mid March on the way to Charleston South Carolina via either Mt. Airy or Raleigh. It would be so wonderful to leave upstate New York and arrive in a place where spring blooming had begun. But, although I have been through Charlotte several times (last time last August!) I have never stopped there or in Davidson. We need to change that. North Carolina is a beautiful state and we probably won't be traveling again this year, but one never knows.
One other comment – the red flowers you captured are camillas – a favorite of mine, and one that is difficult, if not impossible, to grow where we live. I've tried, with a special cold hardy type called April Rose but I don't think it is going to make it, after three years in our yard.
Our trees were showing signs of life this week- but then it snowed last night (only covering the cars, thought)…. we'll see what remains…
The pics of the flowers on the trees reminds me of apple/plum blossoms that I get to see in North India in winter-spring time. They look so lush and gorgeous and the fragrance is enticing too.
The graffiti on the wall is just incredible and I was wishing I was sitting on a bench there somewhere and soaking it all in!
Your posts are so chatty and vibrant ALice.
Beautiful and vibrant colors. We have many kinds of flowering trees in the south, from the white Bradford pear tree which turns into leaves and the Crepe Myrtle that has gorgeous bright pink flowers. These remind me of the northern lilacs.